This sixth edition of Foreign Animal Diseases appears 44 years
after the first edition in 1954. The second, third, forth, and fifth editions were
published in 1964, 1975, 1984, and 1992, respectively.
With each edition, new and important information supports the
established mission formulated in 1954; namely, to bring together in one document the
latest information on those foreign animal diseases considered to be the greatest threat
to the livestock and poultry industries in the United States. In keeping with this
philosophy, the objectives of the Foreign Animal Diseases Committee of the United States
Animal Health Association remain unchanged; i.e., to provide up-to-date information on
foreign animal diseases; how they are diagnosed; how they are spread, and how they may be
prevented, controlled, and eradicated.
Less restrictive trade between countries will likely increase.
This brings with it the requirements for increased vigilance in countries that have
achieved a high degree of freedom from many animal diseases.
Historically, practicing veterinarians are among the first to come
into contact with or suspect a foreign animal disease either in their hospitals, homes of
pet owners, zoological gardens, research institutions, wild-life studies, stockyards, or
on farms and ranches. Unfortunately, many of our veterinary teaching institutions (schools
and colleges) are giving little if any formal attention to foreign animal diseases. Visual
teaching aids, available in the form of slides, films, or electronic sources, can be most
informative and leave a more lasting impression of clinical signs than that obtained from
lectures alone.
The Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical
Association should emphasize the importance of including foreign animal diseases in the
curriculum during their reviews of veterinary teaching institutions. In addition, the USDA
should require some level of documented training in foreign animal diseases as an
essential element for granting federal accreditation of veterinarians.
In this edition, we have revised the format, added a glossary, and
again included colored photographs in an attempt to make the book more user-friendly to
individuals engaged in work with livestock and poultry. The photographs are not intended
for making a definitive diagnosis but for helping to recognize some of the signs and
lesions that may be seen in foreign animal diseases and prompting those who observe such
signs to seek assistance from trained foreign animal disease diagnosticians. For the most
part, suspected foreign animal diseases create emergency situations. Thus, time is
critical in efforts to prevent spread of suspect diseases and to obtain a definitive
diagnosis.
It is difficult to prepare a document that is acceptable to all
concerned. Some will say it should be more practical and others that it should be more
scientific; desired contents depends on one's responsibilities and interests. Our goal was
to publish a book that is primarily for those engaged in field activities. We believe this
edition has come closer to attaining that goal. This book would not be possible without
the input of so many individuals who have unselfishly donated their time to writing the
chapters, appendices, and other information.
Finally, we encourage those who use this book to send helpful or
critical comments to the United States Animal Health Association. There will be future
editions, and constructive comments are always appreciated.
William W. Buisch
John L. Hyde
Charles A. Mebus
COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN ANIMAL DISEASES and others working with
animals or having an interest |